Additional Coverage:
- Elon Musk runs out on stage in cheese hat as he hands out $1 million checks to voters in Wisconsin (irishstar.com)
Elon Musk Dons Cheesehead, Makes Splash at Wisconsin Town Hall
Green Bay, WI – Tech mogul Elon Musk made a memorable entrance at a Wisconsin town hall on Sunday, sporting a cheesehead hat in a nod to the state’s dairy industry and the Green Bay Packers. The appearance, part of a rally for his America PAC, saw Musk award two $1 million checks to Wisconsin voters, designating them as spokespeople for the organization.
Addressing a crowd of approximately 2,000, Musk emphasized the importance of the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election, linking it to both former President Trump’s agenda and “the future of civilization.” He underscored his commitment to the race, stating, “I’m not phoning it in — I’m here in person.”
Musk and affiliated groups have invested over $20 million in supporting conservative candidate Brad Schimel. This substantial financial backing has drawn criticism from Schimel’s opponent, liberal candidate Susan Crawford, and her allies, who have raised concerns about Musk’s influence on the court.
The election carries significant weight as the court is likely to address crucial issues, including the potential redrawing of congressional districts, a move that could impact the balance of power in the U.S. House. Musk argued that if the court redraws the districts, it could disadvantage Republicans and hinder government reforms.
Just prior to the rally, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge from state Attorney General Josh Kaul, who argued that Musk’s $1 million giveaways violated state law by offering inducements to vote. Lower courts had also rejected Kaul’s challenge.
Musk’s legal team countered that the payments were an exercise of free speech and aimed at fostering a grassroots movement against “activist judges,” not advocating for or against any specific candidate. They argued that restricting the giveaways would infringe upon constitutional rights.
This isn’t the first time Musk has employed this tactic. His PAC offered similar payments to voters in other battleground states during the last presidential election, contingent on signing a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court race has become increasingly contentious, with all four liberal justices endorsing Crawford and accusations of bias arising against two of them for campaigning on her behalf. One of the court’s conservative justices has also endorsed Schimel. The race has already broken national spending records for a judicial election, exceeding $81 million.